This presentation to the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) by principal Campbell Scott on ‘Decision Making within Risk Management of Complex Projects’ provides a summary of approaches and tools available to the Project Manager.
‘Treating Risks For The Governance and Management of Complex (Wicked) Projects’ is a jointly authored paper Campbell Scott and Edward Lewis, University of New South Wales, presented at the 2009 MilCis (Military Communications and Information Systems Conference).
Abstract: Complex projects require new methods to improve their governance and management in order to achieve the benefits promised in their business cases. In particular, attention must be paid to the use of decision-making in managing project risks. Traditional risk management methods cannot be used when governing or managing complex projects due to their dynamic, multidimensional nature. Also, these methods differ when dealing with executive-level planning, such as gate reviews, rather than operational project management, such as deciding how to resolve a personnel issue. A broader planning process is required that can span the apparent gap between ‘intuitive’ or ‘naturalistic’ decision-making and analytical or ‘normative’ decision-making for all levels of planning. Risk chains are examined to facilitate better planner and review of risk patterns. Coupling is examined within a control theory context to review linkages within risk chains and how risk can be controlled by examining the linkages between risks in order to facilitate better decision making, governance and project outcomes.